Tub fill control



' Oct. 8, 1963 v H. T H L 3,106,081

TUB FILL CONTROL Filed July 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

Attorn e y Oct. 8, 1963 1.. a. H. MITCHELL 3,106,081

TUB FILL CONTROL Filed July 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CONTROL CIRCUIT TIMER INVENTOR.

27 PRESSURE 5 WI TCH Attorn ey United States Patent Ofi ice 3196,08! Patented Oct. 8, 1963 3,106,081 TUB FHJL CGNTROL Leonard George Henry Mitchell, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, assignor to General Steel Wares Limited, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Filed July 20, 1%2, Ser. No. 211,323 Claims priority, application Canada May 15, 1962 6 Claims. (CI. 68-12) This invention relates to improvements in washing machines and more particularly to a simple and reliable means of effecting the filling of the clothes receiving tub of an automatic washing machine at all times to a predetermined desired level when the machine programming calls for tub fill even though the pressure of the water supply may vary over the widest range.

conventionally, automatic washing machines are controlled by an automatic cycling or timing device which provides the desired timed sequential machine functions including a tub filling period prior to washing, a washing period which may involve an agitator or other washing action, one or more drying periods in which the tub is spun to centrifugally extract the water from the clothing, and one or more rinsing periods.

While many of the machine operations can be effectively related to the distinct period of time allotted to such operation by the timing device, there is one notable exception and that is the tub filling operation. Since the time taken to fill the tub is dependent upon the water pressure available, the time required to bring the tub liquid level up to a specific point will vary from community to community, and from installation to installation. Even the location of the machine in la specific building or the time of the day at which the machine is operated may alte the time-fill factor.

It is therefore the object of this invention to eliminate the time factor in the filling of the tub to the desired liquid level and to ensure that the tub is filled to the desired level before the subsequent timed machine function or functions can take place.

Further in this connection it is the object to enable the desired liquid level to be attained in an extremely simple and positive manner which will also preclude overfilling.

Another important object is to enable the time independent fill control to be automatically reset for subsequent operation by the subsequent machine operations even though such latter operations are time controlled.

One particularly effective type of automatic washer currently being marketed employs a portion of the washing or rinsing liquid to balance the tub during its 'high speed spinning operation in the drying of the clothing and in such a machine a portion of the liquid centrifugally extracted from the clothing in the spinning operation is delivered to and returned in an open balancing ring concentrically surrounding the tub and as the tub comes to rest following the spinning portion of the cycle, such balancing liquid drops out into a collecting casing and may remain in the machine at the end of the machine cycle until a new machine cycle is initiated.

It is another particular object of this invention to enable such a machine to be filled to the desired level irrespective of any balancing liquid which may remain in the machine prior to the initiation of the new machine cycle.

Another important object is to provide a time factor eliminating tubfill control which will not in any way interfere with the clothing in the tub or any of the subsequent machine operations.

The principal feature of the invention resides in pro sive to delivery of liquid through the flow passage to shut off liquid delivery into the tub and to initiate the subsequent machine cycle operation.

More particularly, according to the preferred form of the invention, the means for shutting off liquid flow into the tub and initiating the next machine function comprises a pressure-sensitive switch mechanism located in a liquid collecting receptacle receiving liquid from the flow passage and responding to a predetermined liquid level in the receptacle.

Again, according to the preferred form of the invention, means are provided to purge the receptacle upon tub rotation in the normal machine operation to reset the switch mechanism for the next subsequent tub fill operation.

In this connection, the receptacle or collector may conveniently be arranged to surround the spin axis of the tub and the means to purge the receptacle may comprise a paddle arranged to operate in the receptacle and connected to move with the tub as the tub is spun about its axis.

According to the preferred form of the in ention, the flow passage comprises a tube open at the desired liquid level and located beneath the machine agitator and leading through to the bottom of the tub into the liquid collector. Further, the agitator preferably is provided with openings therein substantially registering with the tube pening to ensure free liquid access to the tube opening.

Again, according to the invention, the tube is constr-ucted and arranged so that it can be easily cleaned or rodded out to preclude any problem from plugging.

These and other objects and features will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a part elevational, part vertical sectional broken away view of a washing machine embodying-the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a broken away perspective view of the paddle and collector pan shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a broken away perspective view of a slightly modified form of paddle and collector pan showing the mountingof the paddle on the bottom of the clothes receiving tub;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmented vertical sectional view of the collector pan of FIGURE 3 and illustrating the mannor in which the paddle dips into the collector pan; and

FIGURE 5 is a part diagrammatic, part schematic view diagrammatically illustrating the elimination of the time factor in the filling of the tub.

With reference first to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated a washing machine of the type disclosed in Canadian Patent No. 621,983 which comprises a clothes receiving tub I fixed to a torque tube 2 which is adapted to be driven in rotation by an electric motor 3 driving a clutch mechanism 4 through a belt drive 5.

Extending through the torque tube 2 is a shaft 6 carrying an agitator generally designated at 7 which has a central conical sleeve portion 8 from which extend spiral vanes 9.

The agitator is adapted to be driven in oscillation through the shaft 6 for washing clothing received in the tub I land-the tub is adapted to be driven in rotation to centrifugally dry clothing in the tub through the torque tube 2. In the machine illustrated, liquid centrifuged out of the tub I is adapted to be collected in an annular balancing ring 10 which concentrically surrounds the tub and is provided with b afiles 11 to prevent surging of the liquid in the balancing ring. During tub rotation, excess liquid is adapted to be dropped out of the open bottom of the ring indicated at 12 and when rotation of the tub ceases, any remaining liquid in the balancing ring will drop out through the open bottom 12.

The clothes receiving tub 1 is mounted within a collector tub 13 and :is provided with a suitable outer casing 14 having a top closure 15. Liquid is adapted to be introduced into the tub through an inlet 16.

Such a washing machine is presently on the market and its operation is well known.

Such present machines, however, are subject to the problem that if the water pressure varies, the tub will not be filled to the requisite level as all of the functions of the machine including filling, agitator oscillation, and tub spinning, are predicated on distinct periods of time through the operation of a timer mechanism.

According to the present invention, this problem is overcome by introducing :a pressure-sensitive switch 17, FIGURES 1 and 5, into the control circuit indicated at 13 in FiGURE so that the pressure switch is interposed between the control circuit and the usual timer mechanism 19 which controls the machine functions in sequence at distinct periods of time. The pressure switch 17 is arranged to perform two functions after, and only after, the tub has been filled to the predetermined level, the first function being to shut off the inlet valve designated at 2b in FIGURE 5, and the second and preferably simultaneous function of initiating the timer mechanism 19 to put the machine through the timed portions of its cycle. The pressure switch 17' is arranged to control the inlet valve 2%} through a suitable solenoid 21 which has previously been actuated by a suitable control button 22 in the control circuit 18, the control button opening the valve and leaving it open until shut by a signal from the pressure switch 17.

To actuate the pressure switch 17, there is provided a tube 23 disposed within the central conical portion 3 of the agitator and open at its upper end as at 24 at a level corresponding to the desired level to-which the tub is to be filled. This tube extends downwardly and through the bottom of the tub 1 through a suitable gland fitting 2S and empties into a collector pan 26 which surrounds the torque tube 2 and agitator shaft 6 and lies wholly within the perimeter of the annular balancing ring 10.

Thus, when the control button 22 of the control circuit is pressed to open the inlet valve 20, water will be introduced through the inlet 16 into the tub 1 at a rate depending upon the water pressure. When the liquid level in the tub reaches a point so that it overflows into the open end 24- of the tube 3, the tube will deliver such overflow into the collector pan 26 and when a sufficient head of water has been collected in the pan 26 it will actuate the pressure-sensitive element 27 of the pressure-sensitive switch 17 closing the switch which will then actuate the inlet valve 29 through the solenoid 21 to close the valve. At the same time, a signal will be delivered to the timer 19 to initiate the next portion of the machine cycle which normally would be agitation of the agitator 7.

it will be understood that to prepare the machine for the next filling operation, the collector pan 26 must be purged :of the liquid contained therein so that the pressure-sensitive element 27 of the switch 19 will reset.

To eifect such purging, there is provided a paddle 28 which, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, may be mounted on the lower end of the tube 23 and this paddle is arranged to sweep an annular path within the collector pan 26 upon rotation of the tub 1 during the spinning portion of the machine cycle. Thus, once the pressure switch 17 has actuated the timer mechanism to perform the subsequent functions of the machine cycle, the function of tub spinning will automatically purge the collector pan.

To protect the working parts of the machine from iquid scooped from the collector pan 26 by the paddle 28, a flexible sealing gasket 29 is provided between the tub 1 and a central annular boss 3d of the collector pan which is open as at 31 to receive the torque tube 2 and agitator shaft 6 th'erethrough.

To ensure that the liquid has free access to the upper end of the tube 24, the agitator 7 is preferably provided with a series of openings 32 therethrough adjacent to the level of the upper end of tube 23.

While the tube is protected beneath the agitator '7 against interference with the clothing and against plugging the tube is preferably made of sufficient diameter and relatively straight so that it may be easily rodded or cleaned out for instance by the use of a coat hanger upon removal of the agitator should lint or other particles work up underneath the agitator.

While FIGURES 1 and 2 show the paddle carried by the lower end of the tube 23, the paddle may of course be equally as well secured directly to the tub as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. Thus, in the views illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, the slightly modified form of paddle designated at 28' is secured to the bottom of the tub I and sweeps out an annular path in the collector pan 26' corresponding to the collector pan 26. Again a suitable gasket seal 29 is provided between the central annular boss 30of the pan 26 and the bottom of the tub 1.

It, will, of course, be understood that with the collector pan 26 lying wholly within the balancing ring it}, the liquid dropped out of the open lower end of the balancing ring will drop clear of and will not fill the pan after it has been purged by the paddle.

It will be understood that various modifications in the details of the structure and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine, a rotatable clothes receiving tub, means for rotating said tub, means for effecting filling of the clothes receiving tub to a predetermined desired level comprising an inlet valve, means for opening said inlet valve, a flow passage opening into the tub at a level corresponding to said predetermined desired level, said'fiow passage emptying into a collector, means responsive to delivery of liquid from the tub by said flow passage to close said inlet valve, comprising a pressure-sensitive device actuated by accumulation of liquid in said collector, and rotary means for purging said collector connected to said tub and responsive to the rotation thereof.

2. In an automatic washing machine a rotatable clothes receiving tub, means for rotating said tub, means for controlling said tub rotating means comprising a timer mechanism, an inlet valve for introducing liquid into said tub, means for effecting filling of said tub to a predetermined desired level comprising means for opening said inlet valve, a flow passage opening into said tub at a level corresponding to said predetermined desired level, said flow passage emptying into a collector, means responsive to delivery of said liquid by said flow passage, comprising a pressure-sensitive switch mechanism actuated by accumulation of liquid in said collector to close said inlet valve and actuate said timer mechanism and rotary purging means connected to the tub responsive to the rotation thereof to purge said collector.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said rotary means to purge said collector comprises a paddle member actuated to sweep at least a portion of said collector following actuation of said pressure-sensitive device.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which the means rotating with said tub to purge said collector comprises a paddle member carried by said tub and arranged to move through at least a portion of said collector upon tub rotation.

5. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which said means rotating with said tubs for purging said liquid collecting means comprises a paddle member connected to spin with said tub and disposed to move through at least a part of said collector means.

6. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which said means rotating with said tub for purging said collector pan comprises a paddle member fixed to move With said tub through at least a portion of said collector pan.

References Cited in the file of this patent 6 Palmer Dec. 2, 1952 Thiele Jan. 12, 1954 OIthuis -l Oct. 11, 1960 Hutt Ian. 24, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS France Mar. 2, 1959 

1. IN A WASHING MACHINE, A ROTATABLE CLOTHES RECEIVING TUB, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID TUB, MEANS FOR EFFECTING FILLING OF THE CLOTHES RECEIVING TUB TO A PREDETERMINED DESIRED LEVLE COMPRISING AN INLET VALVE, MEANS FOR OPENING SAID INLET VALVE, A FLOW PASSAGE OPENING INTO THE TUB AT A LEVEL CORRESPONDING TO SAID PREDETERMINED DESIRED LEVEL, SAID FLOW PASSAGE EMPTYING INTO A COLLECTOR, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO DELIVERY OF LIGUID FROM THE TUB BY SAID FLOW PASSAGE TO CLOSE SAID INLET VALVE, COMPRISING A PRESSURE-SENSITIVE DEVICE ACTUATED BY ACCUMULATION OF LIQUID IN SAID COLLECTOR, AND ROTARY MEANS FOR PURGING SAID COLLECTOR CONNECTED TO SAID TUB AND RESPONSIVE TO THE ROTATION THEREOF. 